a gay butterfly

Here it would probably mean "brightly colored". It could also mean "happy, carefree".

> Blue Jay

I see!! Thank you for your reply:DDD

hachi8what does "a gay butterfly" below mean?

As you probably realise, it is nowadays impossible to use "gay" in its original meaning since the word has been hijacked for the other meaning. Even though I am well aware of the old meaning, I still find myself momentarily startled when I read the word in old writing. E.g., random quote from a book published in 18

hachi8What does "a gay butterfly" below mean?

What comes to mind for me is that the two friends are as alike as the two wings of a butterfly. Since butterflies are apt to flutter off as soon as approached, they might be considered "timid and shy", so that's another connection. However, "gay butterfly" can suggest an

CalifJim However, "gay butterfly" can suggest animated behavior, but "timid and shy" can't, so that's a puzzle.

I see it as the two friends' synergy. Before the meeting, each of them, separately, was "timid and shy"; after the meeting, when together, they are like "the two wings of a gay butterfly".

AnonymousI see it as the two friends' synergy. Before the meeting, each of them, separately, was "timid and shy"; after the meeting, when together, they are like "the two wings of a gay butterfly".

Personally I think that this is over-analysis. It's a picture book for kids. Two children are in a garden and they see a colourful butterfly. No doubt there is a pr

AnonymousBefore the meeting, each of them, separately, was "timid and shy"; after the meeting, when together, they are like "the two wings of a gay butterfly".

The placement of "a gay butterfly" at the end does suggest a result, so I suppose it's possible to infer the paraphrase Have them meet in the garden, and you'll get "a gay butterfly", or s

CalifJim Of course, it would have spoiled the meter to write Voila! before a gay butterfly, but I think that's the effect you're sensing there.

No, I just read it as saying that they meet a butterfly in the garden. Nothing more sophisticated than that.

GPYthey meet a butterfly in the garden

Ah! Right. You can get that by removing the comma and inverting a bit.

[They] Meet in the garden, A gay butterfly ~ [They] meet a gay butterfly in the garden.

Never thought of that. Not much of a story that way, though.

CalifJimNever thought of that. Not much of a story that way, though.

The idea that a "gay butterfly" should be some kind of metaphor for the outcome of a meeting between two children seems to me to be pretty far-fetched for a children's picture book. Of course I haven't seen the book.